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Healthy people who regularly smoked marijuana or used THC bound edible showed signs of early cardiovascular disease similar to tobacco smokers, a new small study was found.
“To my knowledge, this is the first study examining the effect of THC on human blood vessels,” said Matthew Springer, a senior researcher, a professor at the University of San Francis University of California.
“In the future, we look at the window, showing early changes that can explain why marijuana smoking was associated with later heart disease,” Springer said. “The action of smoking seems to contribute to these changes in different ways.”
Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is a marijuana component that ensures high. Previous studies of mice have caused damage to blood vessels that supply oxygen to vital organs after the effects of marijuana smoke, Springer said. However, it is unknown whether marijuana smoke will affect the human blood vessel system.
“We found that the vascular function was reduced by 42% of the marijuana smokers and 56% of Thc edible users compared to the users,” said Dr. Leila Mohammadi, a member of the University of San Francisco at the University of California, California University, said in an email.
The study shows only the association, said Springer. “We can only say that cannabis users have bad blood vessels, not the fact that cannabis consumption causes bad blood vessels,” he said e -mail. By mail.
Conclusions of THC chewed edible were surprisingly surprising, said dr. Andrew Freeman, Denner of National Jewish Health Cardiovascular Prevention and Health.
“Could it be that other marijuana forms – tea, tincture, edible – perhaps not as benign as we once thought?” Said Freeman, who did not participate in the study. “We need bigger studies to better conclude about this conclusion.”
Risk of vascular vascular
One layer of endothelial cells lines all the blood vessels of the body. By proper action, these specialized cells release chemicals such as nitrogen oxide, which control the relaxation and contraction of the canal, thus regulating the flow of blood. Healthy endothelial cells also play an important role in the growth of local cells and help prevent blood clotting.
When the endothelial cells are inflamed, the arteries may increase the accumulation of plaque over time, causing heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Small blood vessels can also cause kidney and lung disease, comas, delirium and dementia.
However, the investigation does not mean that the blood vessels have been blocked at the moment, the Springer said.
“The ships do not grow in real time when more blood is needed, it shows an unhealthy vessel wall, which indicates a later cardiovascular disease,” he said.
Previous studies contain a strong relationship between marijuana use and subsequent cardiovascular disease. 2024. February The study found that marijuana smoking, navigating or eating caused a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even if the person did not have existing heart disease and does not smoke or to tobacco.
The risk of stroke increased by 42%and the risk of a heart attack increased by 25%if the cannabis was used daily and the risk increased as the number of days of marijuana use in ROSE, found to be found in the study.
Using marijuana every day, in a third compared to those who are never shared, can increase the risk of coronary artery disease compared to those who never participate in 2023. February
The American Heart Association advises people to refrain from any substance, including cannabis products, smoking or driving due to possible heart, lung and vascular damage. 2020 The guidelines released pointed out studies showing heart rhythm abnormalities, such as tachycardia and atrial fibrillation, could occur within an hour after the weed that was smoked.
A small trial examination
55 The participants of the study were divided into three groups: people who smoked marijuana at least a year, at least a year, at least three times a week at least three times a week, and non -non -non -non -non -non -non -non -users. None of the people in 18-50 years of research were tobacco smokers or waspers, and they all had little tobacco smoke.
Researchers performed ultrasound on the main right hand of the artery to each person, then applied a particularly tense blood pressure cuff for five minutes. After removing the cuff, the artery was rescued to see how well it expanded or expanded to arrange increased blood flow, a process that needs to be released from nitric oxide.
According to the study, the lesion of endothelial cells regulating the expansion was associated with the dose. The study participants who used more marijuana had a greater risk of damaging the blood vessels that carry oxygen to the organs of the body.
“Higher consumption of cannabis – smoked or swallowed – is associated with inferior vascular function, emphasizing the risk of cardiovascular system, which increases in higher potency and use frequency,” said Mohammadi.
Additional tests of the neck and thigh checked the stiffness of each person’s blood pressure. Compared to people who have never used marijuana, cannabis users seem to have no additional stiffness of blood vessel walls, it was found.
The roles of smoking and thc
Separate analysis increased the serum of hemp smokers and edible users to commercially purchased endothelial cell cultures. Blood from people who used edibles attached to THC did not seem to be harmful to cells – they continued to produce sufficient nitrogen oxide. However, endothelial cells incubated in serum from marijuana smokers released 27% less nitric oxide than those treated with blood from non -smokers.
This evidence is similar to what is found in the tobacco, Springer said, indicating his team’s pre -test showing endothelial cells incubated serum tobacco smokers, released 39% less nitric oxide than non -smoking.
“The observations that every marijuana smokers and THC users have bad blood vessels can force people to conclude that the THC is responsible for all this and the smoke is irrelevant,” Springer said.
According to Springer, this would be an inadequate conclusion, as there are reasons to believe that marijuana smoke itself is responsible as THC for vascular damage.
“Rats affected by marijuana smoke did not have cannabinoids at all, they also had vascular and heart problems, and tobacco smoke is known to cause heart disease and does not have THC,” the Springer said.
“So you are doing flawless by switching from tobacco smoking to marijuana. Smoking marijuana just gives you a double blow – smoke and thc,” he said.
When it comes to marijuana dining rooms, tea, tincture and the like?
“People have everything like a Goldilocks zone – they do too much, do too little right, and are doing well,” Freeman said. “We need further research to find out if there is a Goldilocks area.”
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